Conventions of my sub-genre:Pop AcousticBy Sylvie Apps

I will analyse the conventions of two pop-acoustic music videos:

Ed Sheeran – A TeamEd Sheeran – Give Me Love

I have previously analysed the shot types, length of shots and lighting in my previous textual analysis post.

During this task I will focus mainly on Mise en scene, shots, angles, editing and patterns within the videos.

Mise En SceneProps

In this scene the actress was trying to sell ‘Big Issue’ magazines. This is

stereotypically sold by homeless people for them to make money whilst they are on the

streets. Again, she is wearing a blanket over her shoulder which shows that she is

homeless. However, people still ignore her.

In this scene the actress is led on a bench in a park which shows she has been

sleeping there all night as she also has a blanket and lots of layers on.

These angle wings connotes cupid, purity, magic and power.

Throughout the music video the performer is using a bow and arrow which emphasises the

feeling of love and the fact that she is acting as cupid which is also shown through the lyrics.

This shot shows an exchange of money for drugs which links with the lyrics ‘go mad for a couple grams’ and adds to the

narrative.

In this shot the actress is clearly taking drugs which fits with the

lyrics and creates a tense storyline. This image can be very shocking to the audience but the audience also feel sympathy for

her.

Mise En SceneCostume

The actress is wearing a lot of different coloured jumpers to keep warm and also a

blanket to sleep on which shows she is homeless. However, she is wearing shorts

which is unusual so this suggests that she cant afford trousers. This makes the viewer feel

sympathy towards her.

This actress is wearing a large winter jacket and a scarf which shows it could be winter. She looks upset in the video which could suggest she too is living on

the streets.

In this shot the actress’s clothing completely changes to a lace edge top

and she is placed in front of a mirror which suggests she is getting ready.

In this shot the actress is trying to work as a prostitute to earn money. She has changed her

costume to less clothing to appear more seductive.

This image shows the actress wearing angel wings which shows that she is playing the

role as cupid to create an interesting narrative.

Old baggy clothing is being worn which suggests that she doesn’t have a lot of money.

Mise En SceneMake Up

This picture of another actress shows that she isn’t wearing any make up apart from possibly water on her face to make it look like she has been crying.

This screen shot shows that the make up on the actress is thick and black and is smudged to show that she is crying. This brings a lot of

emotion to the music video.

In this shot her make up is similar to the other shots in the video. Her

eyes are made to look wet and as if she is crying and her face shows a

lot of emotion. Her make up is running under her eye which shows

she is upset.

Theatrical blood is used in Ed Sheeran’s video ‘give me love’ to show

that the actress is dead.

Neutral make up

Mise En SceneEditing

This shot lasts for 7 seconds and whilst the actor stays still there is a time lapse of the city

around her which mainly involves cars moving past at a fast pace which suggests that she was stood there for

quite a while.

Focus pull whilst camera tracks out.

The following shot is also a continuation of the previous time lapse which lasts for

another 8 seconds. it changes slightly by featuring people walk past instead of cars. Showing that people are ignoring the girl for a

long period of time as she is sat outside in the cold. This next shot of the time

lapse continues for another 6 seconds. The scene stays the same but the angle of the shot changes. This is

significant to show the amount of time she is sat there so the audience can connect with the narrative and feel sympathy towards

her.

The colour of the shots have been edited throughout the whole video

to the monochrome colours of black and white.

In this scene there is a smoke effect used.

Overlaying images

At the end of the video there is an overlaying image of the actress on top of a time lapse of the clouds. This shows that she has died which links to the lyrics and is

an end to a disturbing narrative.

Mise En SceneColours

Throughout the whole of Ed Sheeran’s – A Team video the colour is in black and white

monochrome. This is a theme throughout a lot of his music videos

and dark colours are part of the pop acoustic genre in general. Most other videos I have looked at are in colour but only neutral shades and

it looks dark overall.

Colours in Ed Sheeran’s – Give Me Love video consist

of neutral colours. However, the colour theme

throughout is still quite dark although the video is in full

colour.

Mise En SceneLighting

Bright lights are reflecting off of the car lights but are also out of focus whilst the main subject (actor) is in focus. The lighting in this image is quite dark

due to the monochrome colours. Throughout most of the video the lighting is dark to fit with the disturbing storyline.

The lighting is quite dark in Ed Sheeran’s – give me love. This is also

due to the editing of the dark colours.

Lighting is brighter in this image when the actress is acting as cupid. Also smoke bombs are used to create a mystical atmosphere.

Mise En SceneSetting

Establishing shot from a high angle of a deserted park. The whole location of

where she has been sleeping is revealed.Long shot and she is central to the image so the audiences eye

line go straight to her. Establishing shot of busy city taken

from a high angle. Shows that the actress fits in with the scene and she doesn’t stand out as being homeless

due to the monochrome colours.

Low angle central close up of her feet. Shows that she is constantly on the move as

she doesn’t have a permanent home.

Setting appears very mystical with the type

of buildings and the after editing of the clouds in the sky. This establishing shot shows the emergency

services arriving at the girls house at the end of the video as it was revealed she was dead at the

start of the video (circular narrative).

Shot Types/Angles

Close up of the actress’s face which reveals her emotion to the audience

through her shining eyes and smudged make up. This shot was taken from a

high angle crane shot.

This shot is a close up taken at a low angle of her feet. Her lower body is central to the image and it reveals the

empty city around her as well as her blanket which she will

sleep with.

Establishing shot taken from a high angle to reveal where she has been sleeping for the night in a large park. She is central to the image and there is a

lot of space in the shot to show her surroundings.

This shot is taken from a high angle just above her head so

part of her face can be seen and then her reflection is shown in the mirror. It could be said that

it is an over the shoulder shot if the camera was lower down.

This shot is taken from an extremely low angle straight up

from the ground so only the bottom of her face is revealed. The

camera rotates as she turns around looking into the sky.

High angle shot to make the actress appear

vulnerable.Camera pans to the left to reveal

the main character spying on a couple

hidden behind a wall.